The future business leaders of Prague

Junior Chamber International (JCI) is an international, nonprofit organization for young leaders between the ages of 18 and 40 years old to participate in business projects and volunteer activities. Members work on team projects and organize events that promote social, civic and professional responsibility.

JCI chapters were established in Western Europe after World War II, and chapters began to expand in Eastern Europe in the 1990s. A recent arrival to the Czech Republic, JCI works with large organizations such as the United Nations and UNESCO. JCI Praha President Adeline Bonnechere spoke to The Prague Post about the organization's efforts to promote support for SMEs in the Czech Republic.

The Prague Post: When and how was the Prague chapter of JCI started?

Adeline Bonnechere: I was the president of a JCI chapter in Carpentras, France. After a job opportunity brought me to the Czech Republic, I discovered there wasn't a JCI chapter here. It was an opportunity for JCI to discover this country and its culture, so the first step was a great deal of research to know more about the Czech Republic. After I collected all this information, we organized our first meeting with the help of Zsolt Fehér, the senior director of JCI Europe. In May 2008, Fehér and I met with representatives of various networks like Expats.cz and the AIESEC, an international student exchange program. We also presented our organization to students at the University of Economics Prague.

The first official chapter of JCI Praha was established in March of this year and has been a mix between expats and Czechs. Since then, we've developed our program to focus on promoting entrepreneurship in the Czech Republic, and, in November of this year, we're going to hold our first conference, "KEYS to the SME's success."

TPP: What is your typical member like?

AB: JCI members are anywhere from 18 to 40 years old and are from all around the world. It's really for young people who want to get involved in their society and access the international network in order to make contacts and develop their own skills. In JCI Praha, we are a mix of expats and Czechs. When you work with the same goal and the same values, you forget any differences. There's no official language, but we conduct our activities and meetings in English.

TPP: What has JCI's biggest project been so far?

AB: In November, we'll be hosting our first conference. We'll be presenting examples of proven strategies for handling the crisis, how to make better decisions based on more information, how to communicate efficiently, encouraging networking. We also want to encourage Czech and European authorities to provide SMEs with more support through direct funds, legislative changes and  promote an overall better understanding of what SMEs need to thrive.

TPP: Do you cooperate with any other organizations, such as business chambers?

AB: We're still getting up and running, but we're currently working on a partnership program for 2010. We would like to propose cooperation with local chambers of commerce for our next events. They are a priority for us because we can help each other's visibility and develop common projects. JCI is really complementary with chambers of commerce: They are the link between the business sector and us. We also plan to make twinning programs for the next year with some other European cities. This project promotes local development with training, common projects, workshops and conferences.

TPP: Your organization is for "young leaders and entrepreneurs." Are there many young business owners in your organization?

AB: Yes, there are many young business owners in JCI, for two main reasons. One is that JCI targets them, but also, and most importantly, JCI provides its members with the necessary contacts, the leadership skills and personal growth in business by means of forums and programs that let them develop as young entrepreneurs and business people. Many members are thus able to start their own business after they join JCI. In France, for example, among the 1,800 members, nearly 14 percent are entrepreneurs.

Young people are suited to own their own business because they are very dynamic, very ambitious, and it's a great way to have responsibilities early in one's career. The young members of JCI are, indeed, uniquely suited for this, as they gain the necessary skills during their membership thanks to the opportunities and contacts JCI provides them. They can develop their leadership skills inside JCI, by managing projects and participating on the executive boards of the local chapter. The most successful can even make it to the national or international level. That's also maybe why some of them go on to become politicians: Nelson Mandela and Bill Clinton used to be active members of JCI, in fact.

TPP: Why are SMEs such an important part of a strong economy?

AB: Since 1989, the SME sector has become significant for the Czech economy and a driving force for entrepreneurship, innovation and employment. In a few words, it is key for the country's economic and social stability.

As shown by the most recent statistics from the Czech Industry and Trade Ministry, the SME sector accounts for 99 percent of firms, 61 percent of employees, 39 percent of exports and 35 percent of the Czech GDP.

According to the Czech Chamber of Commerce, the Czech Republic is a case study example of SME growth for Central and Eastern Europe. The country went from a situation where the communist government owned 99.9 percent of all companies with virtually no private sector, and now the entrepreneurial spirit is being explored. After two waves of privatization and the EU accession in 2004, the current business climate is now comparable to other EU member states.

TPP: What lessons is JCI taking from the economic crisis, and how are you helping its members navigate the recession?

AB: The very first lesson would be to stay optimistic. This crisis time is very difficult, for sure, but it is a moment for business to become even more dynamic, hard working and continue growing. It's also an opportunity to look back with some perspective and see what can be improved, both on an individual level as well as for businesses. Firms need to make these changes and prepare for the end of the crisis. It's the right time to become even stronger and gain some competitive advantage. New solutions and new leaders emerge from the hardest times.